Ridiculously Green — Austin’s “Ladybird Lake” Hike & Bike Trail
Just Good Stuff | Posted by Jannie on 2 September 2009 @ 4:04 PM 74 Comments
Kelly started happily back to school Monday. (Yes, happily — she adores her school.) And I started happily back to my morning running / walking, buttocks-blasting routine here in good old friendly Austin, Texas — U. S. of A.
I took these snaps Monday and Tuesday along my usual 3-mile stretch of the trail (Click-enlarging seems to really sharpen them.)
(Kayakers afar, not ridiculously colorful waterfowl.)
Yes, this is where I get to walk! For free!!! Any day I want, between Park curfew hours of 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Why is it at a St. Pat’s Day party all that green clothing makes me want to barf, yet the green of nature only makes me happy and happier? (And no, I don’t mean green beer barf potential.) 
The city runs through our 10.2 mile trail along Ladybird Lake, which used to be called, but a lot of us still and probably forever will call — Town Lake.
This lake is part of a series of lakes formed by dams — lakes which are actually sections of the Lower Colorado River, which is not at all connected to the Colorado River of Grand Canyon fame much further West. I know, it’s a bit confusing, but stick with me. Future posts will might explain more.
Notice some downtown buildings and their reflections hiding in the photo below?
Flowers run through our trail too! Tons of flowers. My totally non-pro camera did a pretty good job of capturing a few blooms, I think.
Trumpet Honeysuckle?
Blue Plumbago
Mystery Flower (some kind of rose?) It grows on a bush.
Here’s a trail map, which should excite you to no end. (It actually does show super-nice resolution upon a click, and ludicrous-great res with an additional click.)
And below – a couple of the many park benches you’ll find me and my buttocks on (I hardly ever leave home without them. My buttocks, that is. Well, yes, I did once. Leave them home, but that’s a whole other post. Or series of posts.)
Ridiculously green, despite a general drought. Ridiculously gorgeous. I’m ridiculously lucky. And blessed. And happy to be alive.
And back to a school schedule.
I likes our Town Lake trail. A lot.
And you? Have you hugged your nature lately?
(Zilker Park, beside The Trail. Much more on Zilker to come.)
Footnote: Notice I had to add an entire new category for this? … “Just Good Stuff.” I might even go through my old posts and re-direct a few of them to J.G.S.
Stay tuned for more and more “Just Good Stuff” here in Downtown Funstertown!
On 2 September 2009 at 4:25 pm Mama Zen said,
That place might even be enough to get me off of my buttocks!
On 2 September 2009 at 4:35 pm Jannie said,
Mama Z: I cannot imagine your buttocks as anything other than sheer joyous delights that propel you along your days and nights. Revel in them.
P.S. Do you have a nice walking area near your house?
On 2 September 2009 at 5:02 pm tammy said,
Absolutely gorgeous!
On 2 September 2009 at 5:16 pm John Hoff - WP Blog Host said,
Beautiful pictures. You’re like my wife, she loves taking pictures of things like flowers, the moon, clouds, etc.
I love the outdoors, but we don’t have anything quite like that here in Vegas. There are, however, really cool mountain trails and formations.
On 2 September 2009 at 7:07 pm Patricia said,
I have a beautiful lake outside my windows and I walk the 5.5 miles around it nearly everyday. My world is Evergreen! We need flowers for relief of the green
Thank you for this lovely post and I am glad to now know that you take your buttocks with you most of the time.
My Lake is maybe going back to being a river delta and mudflats to help the return of the wild salmon. This will make me sad and happy. I wish the folks upstream between here and Mt. Rainier would stop the cows from using the river as a bathroom and the whoever would stop putting polluting soap and foam pieces in the river.
The kayak’s paddlers are so thoughtless sometimes on my Lake that they disturb the Blue Heron’s nest regularly and thus we are down to 1 pair remaining.
Beauty must not be taken for granted.
Back to school schedules are beautiful too!
Thank you Jannie.
On 2 September 2009 at 8:05 pm Betsy Wuebker said,
Hi Jannie – These photos are so beautiful! I believe your mystery pink flower could be Rose of Sharon. I always loved that name, especially since there was a Steinbeck character named that. Such a pretty moniker.
What a lovely path you get to walk! I am going to start walking the nature center near here in the mornings. Pete got some good shots of wild turkeys there last week. He said they were waiting for him before he got to the gate! LOL – he never gets a real shot at any while hunting.
On 2 September 2009 at 8:40 pm Avani Mehta said,
What a beautiful park this is. Makes walking/running a joyous and refreshing activity. I usually use treadmill to run (so that I don’t cheat with my run plan), this inspires me to dump treadmill for the real thing
On 2 September 2009 at 8:47 pm Lynn said,
Oh what a lovely park! I feel as if I have had a nice walk through it. Thanks for letting us stroll with you in that beautiful green space! Is it cooling off there? Might be time for me to have a walk at Stone Mountain Park soon.
On 2 September 2009 at 8:50 pm G said,
Excellent park.
Sounds like a great place to get in touch with one’s self.
Thanks for the mini-tour.
On 2 September 2009 at 9:05 pm Karen said,
You are so lucky to have such a nice place to run! It looks beautiful.
On 2 September 2009 at 9:10 pm Julie said,
The park looks beautiful. I want to find a place like that to go around here, that would be wonderful.
It’s nice that your daughter likes school. I always loved school when I was young, summer break was too boring for me.
On 2 September 2009 at 10:18 pm Jannie said,
tammy: It’s great, yes! Especially now that it’s finally cooling off a bit. Mornings are down around 70 degrees now.
John: I’ve only been to the Vegas strip but would love to experience some of your desert and mountainous nature areas.
Patricia: I knew you walked a lot, but wasn’t aware it was 5.5 miles a day. You must be in fine shape and raring to go every day over in Scotland. I too am sad and happy to hear about your lake. Maybe it’ll be a walk around the mud flats now? Cow poop, eh, regrettably it does get washed into the bodies of water. There must be a solution.
Betsy: I’m not so sure about it being the rose of Sharon because Sharon lost all her flowers in the last storm. Sorry, lame joke. It does sound exotic, yes. And I used to like wild turkey but I’m more of a beer person now.
Avani: Yes, joyous and refreshing! And so inspiring as it’s an ever-changing landscape of people, dogs and seasons.
Lynn: Yes, a little cooler here, under 100 degrees for day-time highs now. Heaven! Of course, I’m done my exercise by 9:30 a.m. And there’s all that glorious shade.
G: Yes, getting in touch with oneself indeed. So peaceful. Just so rejuvenating.
Karen: Yes, LUCKY, that’s the word for us Austinites. I was not a regular trail person until 2 years ago, I did Jazzercise for many years which was good in it’s own way, but I like the trail best!
Julie: I love that the path is of mostly crushed granite, finely crushed is so easy to run on , so gentle to the knees. Sometimes I even just take off across that big field and run like a wild kid.
nitie-nite all.
xo
On 2 September 2009 at 10:20 pm Jan Lundy said,
Hey lady, what a view, what a run, what a great place to live. I would love to see it myself. Stunning beauty! You are blessed. Got your card. Thank you so much. Just got my kiddo off to school too and will write back when I get a second…xo
On 2 September 2009 at 10:26 pm Jannie said,
Jan, you are sweet but please I sent you a measley postcard, and I still owe you for that wonderful long letter – so I’m next, okay? Yep, pretty beautiful. I looked at all these photos again and wonder if I am bragging? I don’t really mean to and I sure hope it does not come off that way? It’s just so glorious here! With so many photo ops. Can you blame me?
On 2 September 2009 at 10:41 pm Carla said,
Boy, if that trail was around here, I think I might just be inclined to take up jogging. Lovely. And your footnote…I totally get that!
On 2 September 2009 at 11:07 pm Jeanne said,
Jannie,
Bring on the “Just Good Stuff”. If this post is any indication of what kind of posts will proudly bear that title, bring ‘em on.
What a beautiful place to walk, run, etc. Pretty green for a drought is right!
My daughter is in countdown mode. (She loves school so much that she does a countdown every year as summer vacation winds down). So I understand what you were saying about Kelly happily starting back to school.
The flowers are gorgeous!!
Jeanne
P.S. Do you remember me once telling you about my obstructive sleep apnea body… it erupting in a snort noise when I laugh hard? (Hey, I can’t help it). Well, your kayak comment (”Kayakers afar, not ridiculously colorful waterfowl”) made me snort. Good thing I learned awhile back from one of your previous posts not to engage in dangerous behaviors like eating/drinking at the keyboard. I like my keyboard clean, thank you! No food/drink stickiness required.
On 2 September 2009 at 11:11 pm Thomma Lyn said,
LOL, I also try never to leave home without my buttocks! They come in handy. Especially when I want to sit down.
What beautiful pictures! You have a wonderful local trail to hike and bike on. Enjoy! And you got delightful pictures of the wildflowers.
I know exactly what you mean about green. There are shades of green that make me want to barf when I see them on cars or clothes, but I love, love, love green in nature. And yup, I hugged nature today!
On 2 September 2009 at 11:41 pm Talon said,
Pure gorgeousness…and I LOVE the photo of the canoes and of the flowers – but you know how partial I am to flowers
The lovely pink looks like primrose and the yellow looks like a trumpet.
Hey, don’t you remember that old guy on that old tv show who used to say, “No brag, just fact.” And it’s a fact that you have a beautiful trail system in your part of the world…and the fact is, I’m jealous!
On 3 September 2009 at 2:07 am Ching Ya said,
I SO wish to be there myself and witness the greenness, lay myself down on the field and baskin in the warm sun. Love the Ladybird Lake (I just adore that name!), wish to be sitting there, enjoy the breeze. I can feel the wind now even just by imagining it…
I could go on and go.. I’m guilty of not embracing the nature after a long while. Even missing my favorite beach. I have this post stumbled just to remind others about moving our buttocks and get us some nature-nourishment. That’s what I enjoy most about your blog, Jannie — the joy, innocence, laughter through stories shared. You’re a blessing to your readers, glad I’m one of them. ^^
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
On 3 September 2009 at 2:13 am Walter said,
You have a very beautiful, peaceful and inspiring place. I wish I could be in that location. It’s ridiculously pleasing.
On 3 September 2009 at 2:53 am cinderkeys said,
I suddenly feel the need for some fresh air …
On 3 September 2009 at 5:14 am kingofnewyorkhacks said,
Wow…I have a cousin who moved to Austin and I myself have been there twice !! Loved it, great music 6th st I think? ….but the funny thing is his wife sends the family beautiful photos of flowers…now…I just did 12 miles on my bike tonight on a New York City road for the first time in 5 years since I tore my quad tendon !!!! It was nowhere NEAR that pleasant trail !!! NOW I know why he moved there ….and I may soon follow !!!! Is there a King of Austin Hacks yet ???
On 3 September 2009 at 6:54 am Jannie said,
Hey, it’ super-great to see everybody! Thanks for the comments. I’ll be back to respond to each and every one after getting Kelly to school and I’m home from the beloved trail.
Oh yeah – I think you know The Trail I’m referring to?
On 3 September 2009 at 7:53 am Cathy said,
that trail would totally motivate me to exercise! i would never guess Austin is going through a drought.
On 3 September 2009 at 7:57 am Glenn Buttkus said,
14 images that inspire, that titilate, that demonstrate the beauty in your world, and is testament to the fact that you do pay attention to your environment. Flowers do not blossom without your notice and edorsement. Like one of the other commenters, Patricia I think, I live in the evergreen state, in Washington. But with the long hot summer they considered changing the name to the everbrown state. I guess blue bunnie is informing us that if we want to be graced by the Jannienus on our sites we will have to get in line here in Funsterland.
Some of your comments on my site crack me up in the middle of my mundane workaday. Nothing like levity to spice up the blue haze of serfdom.
Glenn
On 3 September 2009 at 8:07 am Nadia - Happy Lotus said,
Hi Jannie,
I read this post while sitting at my desk at my day job and can I tell you, it was so relaxing to look at those pictures. Now I want to go visit Austin, the one city I have not been to in Texas. How beautiful. Also, to be candid, it makes me want to go home early.
On 3 September 2009 at 8:20 am Dot said,
Just gorgeous! I think the mystery flower might be a Rose of Sharon.
I used to walk my dogs around a similar, but much smaller, lake at a nearby college, but they’ve destroyed the lake to put up a parking garage. “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. They take paradise and put up a parking lot.” – Joni Mitchell
On 3 September 2009 at 9:56 am Carol | Stress Eating said,
It just makes me want to go outside, not to run, just go outside! What a great place to run, although I hear it has been very HOT in Texas!
On 3 September 2009 at 10:28 am Ana said,
I love your bike and hike trail, there is such a diversity of nature among it’s path that it is truly mesmorising. I even like the view of urbanisation from the reflection in the water. It’s amazing what our world brings, in our very own beauty of the world. These moments of recognition are the ones that help us to see the way things are, and makes us understand the value in their worth. Moments like these are truly cherishing. Happy to have encountered such a moment, and we are all grateful for you sharing with us your own corner of the world.
On 3 September 2009 at 11:27 am J.D. Meier said,
What a great trail and I like the vicarious journey. For some reason, the tree by the swan reminded me of a scene with Golem in his days before Precious.
On 3 September 2009 at 11:38 am Sara said,
Jannie — Today seems to be my day for receiving good advice. I haven’t hugged nature today unless you count watching a squirrel (not Joe) attempt to eat from my bird feeder — they are the most persistent animals I have watched:~)
I need to get outside with my camera. While I can’t do it today, I’m writing it in my book for tomorrow. I need to hug nature….thanks for the beautiful photos to remind me of this:~)
On 3 September 2009 at 11:41 am Cindy said,
Beautiful! I didn’t realize it was so green down there still! My yard is like dead straw
On 3 September 2009 at 12:44 pm Vered - Blogger for Hire said,
Gorgeous! You ARE lucky.
On 3 September 2009 at 12:47 pm Jannie said,
Alrighty then… (a la Jim Carry inflection.)
Buttocks full and well blasted. Abs sucked in (a bit.)
Now, where was my jannie, I mean me. Where was I?
Carla! It’s funny, I had not run in about 20 years, then on a whim walked the trail 3 years ago when Kelly started a new school. And lo – it stuck. The crushed gravel path is just soooo easy to run on. It certainly made me take up jogging again. I love it!
Jeanne: YAY!!! Good stuff. Great stuff. A never-ending supply of it. You guys start after Labor Day, right? School, I mean? Isn’t it just a joy and blessing that our kids love school? And I think it’s hilarious that you got a kick out of the line about the kayakers — I never know what will hit whom how. (I snort-laugh some times too!)
Thomma Lyn: Nothing like having your buttocks with you at all time! We strongly recommend it, eh? Good for walking up hills too, them glutes. And you – I know you hug nature each and every day and it obviously hugs you back even tighter.
Talon: I think the canoe pic is my fav too! And finally, I get some flower pics (not as good as yours of course, but still acceptable.) No brag? Cool! This was a lot to hit you innocent unsuspecting ones with. But obviously it’s just a joyous occasion on a joyous trail.
Ching Ya. Ladybird is for Ladybird Johnson, the late Pres’ wife. That trail is like part of my heart and soul, and is for so many Austinites. Nature-nourishment, what a lovely way to put it — thanks my sweet Ching ya. Even just stopping to say hello to a shrub or flower can boost your soul. Oh, and thanks for Stumbling this — so so sweet. I mean to put up a widget thing about my post that now has had over 3200 sumbles! This post… http://www.janniefunster.com/2009/08/28/yes-kids-do-say-the-darndest-things/
Walter: It’s ridiculously unfair you cannot be here to enjoy it too! There must be thousands of trail runners a day, a never-ending stream of happy humanity. Where do you live?
cinderkeys; Ahhh, inspiring yes. We are creatures of nature and must spend much time there or wither away.
King: AUSTIN IS WAITING FOR YOU!!! We so need us a King. And the whole world knows there is only one you. Yes, get yourself here, ASAP. And please take care of that quad tendon. And all of your tendons!
Hi Jannie!
Cathy: Hello and welcome, so nice to see you. Do you have your own blog? Yes, I was so amazed too, as Cindy says below, our lawns are crisps (unless we’ve been watering them) I guess those trees just build super super deep root systems. The large lawn is actually brand new with an irrigation system, so I guess the rest of the trail gets its water by osmosis. No, they do irrigate some places.
Chocolate ice cream break! After all, it is about lunch time here.
On 3 September 2009 at 1:07 pm Miladysa said,
Unbelievable!
Beautiful!
I thought you were joking about it being in a City until I saw the buildings reflected in the water! Lucky girl
On 3 September 2009 at 1:24 pm sheila said,
Wow Jannie! Beautiful park! I love me some parks! My fav pic of this post was the one with the canoe or boat or whatever kind of boat it was.
We love walking the local trails here too. One is actually opening right near my house that we’re hoping to take this weekend. Can’t wait.
So how far do you actually run? The whole 10 miles? If so….OMG. I can’t even run a quarter mile. lol
On 3 September 2009 at 1:26 pm Paige said,
You know…well maybe you don’t, but anywho we have been wanting to make a little weekend trip to the Enchanted Rock; is that anywere near Ladybird’s lake?
Where’s the map…ok who ta heck took my map or was that a nap. Green beer did you say green beer?
On 3 September 2009 at 4:11 pm Jannie said,
Well, check this out — I had a banana instead of chocolate, mainly because I really wanted something sweet-crunchy more than ice cream.
Like you care?
No, but to elaborate, I think the absolutely most exquisite candy bar ever known to man is the Mr. Big bar, not available in The States, to my knowledge. I had one a day in Canada. Holy freaking frig they are heaven — but MUST be frozen.
Ahh, so glad to have that off my chest. Thinking I’ll be off computer at 4:10, out of the tub by 4:25 and off in my car to get Kelly by 4:40. Should I make a sweet pit-stop prior to getting Kelly? A park picnic would be nice, with photos. But I’ll need costume changes for her, well at least 1. Should I bring duck crumbs? Nah!
Okay.
Glenn! You’re up. Step right up to the mike. Your comments are priceless. I’m not sure why you keep coming back here and saying such cool things, but I”m glad you do! THANK YOU!! And yes, Patricia is indeed in your State. Why is it so dry? Cerfdom? Ah, yes, the work-a-day. I have dishes to do – you know. Guess how many days I’ve been stacking ‘em up?
Nadia: Is that your desk where you are the rose of sharon among all those thorny co-workers? Sorry, being silly. But it’s true. I read your Cranky Pants People post … http://happylotus.com/2009/08/20/dealing-with-cranky-pants-people/ I love your writing, your blog, your upliftingness and your attitude.
Dot: Two votes for Sharon, I think you’re right, I Googled a pic last night. But I know I’m off on the trumpet honeysuckle, unless they only come in a kind of a deep burnt orange, that’s what I saw last night on the web. I have a pic of the yellow one in one of my gardening books which I must unearth. And Amen on that quote — amen. That sucks on your lost trail. There must be another good one?
Carol: Well, since we’ve only been cooping ourselves up in these weird dungeons for a couple thousand years (Maybe a few thousand,) our instinct is still to commune with nature. Well, we ARE nature, actually. Let us love it as much as we can.
Ana: A treat to see you here again, thanks. It sis an incredible gift I do not fully appreciate as often as I perhaps have. I do wish we had a Northern fall, complain complain. Most of our leaves go from green to yellow to brown. A few are more reddish. But I shall soon know again the true winter hibernation of Canada, as I did for my first 26 years. One or 2 (or 3, for sure no more than 4,) years until we’re back in Nova Scotia. Wheere do you live? Sorry, I’ve forgot. It takes me a while to place all my blogging friends — slowly but surely!
Hey guys, I should run — its 4:09 now!
xo
On 3 September 2009 at 6:24 pm robbi said,
Frinster, Ah ‘ways knew there wuz more to being jannie than jus bein’ Kelly’s mum, as important as that be of course. A chronicler of life,or what passes for that, in Austin Texas, a hinterland Samuel Longhorne Clemens so to speak,with pictorials yet ! Oh but it are goodly stuff young jannie, but we all does know that are not you in the more than fetching two piece outfit a’jogging along, although we are assured you would fetch up as fetching, because it are that you were a’taking of the aforesaid pictorial.Grand stuff jannie’o,let us see more of your loverly city,but that parrot you sold me maam, it takes breath not at all.That it(the parrot) appears either very deep in slumber, or may I say, it are no longer with us?
On 3 September 2009 at 6:35 pm Barbara Swafford said,
Hi Jannie,
What a gorgeous park. You are very lucky. Scenery like that would be motivating enough to go for a walk even if you didn’t feel like walking.
Thank you for sharing your corner of the world.
On 4 September 2009 at 2:11 am SnaggleTooth said,
How’d those 40 comments get ahead of me already? I must be running too slow- My clock did that to me, making me late to work yesterday.
Pretty trail, bet you’re happy for the freedom time. Looks a bit crowded tho-
Keep on trackin, n try not to forget your buttocks again…
On 4 September 2009 at 7:18 am Jannie said,
So here’s a good one. Kelly and I picnicked on that green last evening, such delightful mother-daughter time laying on the new grass, watching the clouds roll gloriously by, yes delightful until I got about 12 fire ant bites on my left arm. Didn’t have the greatest night last night. Slept from about 8:00 p.m until just now.
But I’m still gonna walk the trail today.
And answer your comments later.
Good day.
P.S. Never let your fire ant guard down in Texas. Never.
On 4 September 2009 at 7:56 am Glenn Buttkus said,
My father-in-law, may he rest in peace,was taking me on a tour of his pastures like 10 years ago, and after he explained that on the Gulf Coast of Texas one can encounter wild pigs, every pit viper known to man, gators, scorpions, and gila monsters, he showed me a fire ant nest and warned me of the dangers. As we got back to his pick up, standing by the driver’s door, he began to dance and smack at his pants legs. Then just as two cars approached he jerked his britches down to kill the dozen fire ants that had crawled up his legs and we stinging the hell out of his manhood. I wish I could describe the looks on the passers by faces. I considered charging admission. I shared this story at his funeral, loading up the joint with the levity he would have appreciated. So far, knock on wood, in all my visits to Texas, I have not encountered the wily fire ant. Their bites can raise a welt, like a bee sting I’m told. I keep coming back to Funsterland because one never knows where the matriarch and earth mother/jester Jannie will take us. It is like a carnival ride, like chocolate sauce on a cheeseburger, like a four leaf clover in my salad….oops I almost made reference to a lucky rabbit’s foot; sorry blue bunnie.
Glenn
On 4 September 2009 at 1:10 pm Jewel/Pink Ink said,
What a beautiful place! I would love to walk along that path. Might even “exercise” more without realizing it.
On 4 September 2009 at 1:39 pm Lance said,
Hey, there should have been a self-portrait in there somewhere! Jannie, get back out there and start snapping!! Snap! Snap!
And now all I’m thinking is “green beer”…or maybe it’s just “beer”…
Which makes me think, it’s time for the weekend to start!
Happy Friday afternoon. Hey, say “hi” to Hermann if you happen to see him out on the trail…
And in Dale Evans/Roy Rogers form – “Happy trails to you….”
On 4 September 2009 at 3:17 pm Zeenat{Positive Provocations} said,
HI Jannie,
Such a lovely and beautiful stretch for running.I am gonna so be coming back and borrowing a few pictures from your blog. Will give you credit of course. I loved the close ups of the flowers. Ahhh pink flower…me loves
On 4 September 2009 at 4:07 pm brandi said,
photos are wonderful! thank you so much for sharing..I can see why you love it.
On 4 September 2009 at 4:33 pm Jannie said,
Hey, I’ve been out visiting blobs all day long I forgot to tend my comment garden on this post.
But I’ll be back — you know I will.
tee hee
On 4 September 2009 at 9:34 pm Natural said,
that looks like an awesome walk jannie. great for picture taking too. i love the photo with the boat.
On 4 September 2009 at 9:55 pm Renee said,
Jannie, we have a lot in common… kind of. The green St. Patty’s beer elates me. Running in the park makes me want to barf. Especially after a lot of green beer.
Renee
On 4 September 2009 at 11:42 pm Stacey / Create a Balance for Moms said,
Your local green is beautiful. We were just at our local park on Lake Michigan this evening and tomorrow we are heading to another park to go fishing. I love all of the green space around Chicagoland.
On 5 September 2009 at 10:35 am Jannie said,
A storm knocked out our Internet at home last night and I’m here at the library.
Was very looking forward to spending this time answering comments when what to my horror did I find but hundreds of spams from one disgusting I.P. er, which I had to manually remove.
So there goes my computer time, and we’re off to Kung Fu now.
See you later!
xo
On 5 September 2009 at 1:37 pm Jannie said,
Made it back, whew, my blog intact.
J.D. ! Hey. You’re at bat. Golem, eh? It’s been a while since I saw those films, I’m still flabbergasted about Finding Nemo being beat out at the Oscars by hobbits and such. I wonder if I’ll ever get over it?
Sara: I adore squirrels! They are persistent, yes. Hard to keep them out of bird feeders. I like their sense of humor — they get the dogs chasing them, so funny to see them running up one tree and down another with the mutts in silly pursuit.
Cindy: Yes, most of un-irrigated Austin, if not Texas as a whole, is certainly brown. Altho the deluge from last night might turn that around. Sheesh, we were without power for 2 hours. We roasted wienies over 5 candles tho, that was fun.
Vered: Yes, lucky to beat the band.
Jannie!
Miladysa: Long time no see — so great to have you back! The City is readily available to see along the entire trail, but the pix I chose show the apparent lack of urbanity — smoke and mirrors.
Sheila-Dude: I so do not, nor do I have the desire to ever run 10 miles in one stretch. Some days when I’m lazy I might only go 2 miles, but usually I do 3-4. Currently I’m at the 3-mile mark and very little running, altho today I did break into wild fast abandon a few times, even tho I was only wearing my walking shoes. New running shoes for me very soon. I got my $100.15 Google Adsense check yesterday! And am goin’ shoe shoppin’!!! (Only took me about 10 months for that $100.15. I may work up to 3 of the 4 miles running by Christmas. Or I may not. But you can be sure I’ll be the weird one doing leg lifts off to the side on a bench. And I’ll often be in my pink John Deer cap too, yes me teh one with the key and chapstick in my bra, left side I wonder if you are on your new trail as I write this? Was it fab? Did you love it? Will you go again, and regularly?
Paige: E-MAIL ME!!! We have been talking about an Enchanted Rock trip, maybe in mid-to-late October when i’ts cooler. It’s about 2 hours from us, I think. Let’s meet and hike it together. Won’t that be grrrreat?!?!
Robbi: Deceased? That parrot is dead?? So sorry. They don’t make them like they used to, that’s for sure. Yes, indeed. More pictorial spreads of our fair town, perhaps even with yours truly included, a fair town I will not want to leave for Canada, but I believe I shall indeed one day. Leave. Go.
Barbara: It is not a bad corner of the country here on our little trail! Please let me know when you’re in Austin and I’ll take you for a jaunt.
Snag: I guess this post has hit a nerve. I’m really finding the posts of good things, beauty etc. are popular. Go figure – folks liking good stuff. And boy, if you think this is crowded, you would NOT like the after-work crowd of joggers – probably 5x amount of folks out then. And I do like the “Safety in numbers,” thing.
Jannie!
Deere Glenne: My foots is still on me thanksfilly. Wen you coomming to texis again? will you go on the trale wit me and my jannie and my kelly and my jimmy?
Jewel: Obviously it’s a pretty fine place indeed. And sitting here at this library hearing you mention “exercise” I have suddenly sucked in my abs.
Lance: I actually met Hermann out on the trail with his 12 shih-tzus. I see him there quite often yes. Now that he’s the secretary to my blog assistant’s helper I see him here at the library too. Maybe I’ll get him to snap a pic of me on the trail sometime. Or take my video.
Zeenat: Yes, by all means borrow as many as you wish — and the link-back is very much appreciated. THANK YOU!!
(Me loves pink too!)
Brandi: Yep, me and thousands of Austinites agree – it rocks!! Folks even drive in from afar just to run there.
And you know they have free cold water stops along the trail? Yep!
Natural: I could probably take 500 good and differing pix out there. Wanna see 500?
Renee: As usual you have managed to CRACK ME UP! What would I ever do without your popping by here to spread your own wacky brand of funsterment? I vote yours funniest comment of this post!
Stacey: Chicagoland is on my list of places to visit in this supremely fine country of ours. Do you go fishing in a boat or off a dock?
Joy: I guess you’re not into the green beer and walls of opressive green garb either? Do you go to Central Park much? Or is that just a fantasy place as seen in the movies? I was there once, but just the Tavern On The Green, didn’t really see much of the actual park.
On 5 September 2009 at 1:48 pm Yaya said,
Wow great pictures!
We live right near the Erie canal so we’re lucky we get to run along that. It really is beautiful.
On 5 September 2009 at 1:55 pm wade said,
Jannie, how wonderful you are. I see Lady Bird Lake and the trail every day of my life and yet you were able to bring it so into focus. You artists can do anything ! Thank you for such a beautiful post of our home town.
Next time include the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue !
On 5 September 2009 at 1:57 pm wade said,
when I posted I got your note on the 500 lewd spams you received. As you probably know,they were all from me and now that I know you object to them I will stop. Sorry.Everyone has different taste.
On 5 September 2009 at 2:19 pm Jannie said,
Yaya: Glad you crossed your life-schism to get here.
Erie Canal, I’m gonna Google that and take a peek around. (I’m nosey like that.)
Wade: What you doing working near the trail? You oughta be out there beating the gravel, Barton Creek Mall cannot compare, as you may know. Oh, well, but there are not many Charlie Sheen shirts for sale on zee trale. Yeah, totally on the SRV statue, I did not venture that way on Monday and Tuesday, but I did on Wednesday, and there was not much dog poop at all on that section – people are getting more responsible every day. Ah ha, it was YOU (not!) on those porn spams. P.S. Love your blue bunny gravatar – rocks!
So, I’m leaving the library now to head home to see if the Net’s back up. Not to eat or shower or so dishes or anything, just to go online.
On 5 September 2009 at 9:41 pm Caity said,
Oh my goodness what an inspiring sight on a morning run. What a wonderful thing to do. I hope you continue to enjoy your endeavors into these beautiful places. Thanks for sharing these lovely photos with us!
On 5 September 2009 at 11:50 pm Karyn and Barkaly said,
I want to go take pictures at that park!
That pink flower reminds me of the prairie rose… but I don’t think it’s a rose. I’ll see if I can identify it.
On 6 September 2009 at 4:02 am Rhett said,
Oh Christ. The U S of A is so friggin beautiful. You dont have that sorta natural beauty anywhere in my country — no where except hill stations but who lives in hill stations — they are for summer vacations.
This almost brings to life the scenes of the book I am reading — Anne of Green Gables — although that’s based in Canada.
On 6 September 2009 at 1:20 pm Jannie said,
Caity: I love all that beauty, of course and the ever-changing beauty. And I have many routes along the 10.15 miles to choose from. Lucky!!
Karyn (And Barkaly, of course!) : From the lovely nature shots you post,I know The Trail would be right up your alley for sure.
Rhett: Well, we have so much more space of course, and quite a few less people per square mile here than in your country. But I bet India has some glorious nature scenes too in your hill stations. And it is hilarious you mention “Anne Of Green Gables” as that was written about 300 miles from where I was born and raised! I just read it to Kelly this summer and it was not as exciting as I remembered it as a kid.
On 7 September 2009 at 2:05 am SnaggleTooth said,
You got a Stevie Ray Vaugn statue there? I wanna see it…
On 7 September 2009 at 8:21 am Chris said,
Gorgeous! You are so fortunate to have such a beautiful place to walk/run/ride. I would meet you there every morning if I lived in Austin!
On 7 September 2009 at 11:55 am Aimee said,
Jannie,
Beautiful pictures!When living in a city, it is so nice to have a nature escape. I think it keeps one “connected”, if that makes sense.
I went for a nice hike deep into the bush on Friday. I never made it to my destination though (a glacier fed, subalpine lake), as I came across a large pile of some-what fresh bear poop. Needless to say, I turned around and walked rather quickly in the opposite direction
On 7 September 2009 at 1:30 pm Rose said,
What a beautiful trail. wish we had one like that around here.
On 8 September 2009 at 10:01 am Jannie said,
Snaggle: Stay tuned! I will for sure post it some time. SRV lived here, of course, God rest his bluesy soul.
Chris: You immediately come to mind when i think of our trail, would be your natural habitat, I think. But I’d never keep up with you on the running, neither speed or distance-wise, I’m sure.
Aimee: OMG — bear poop. Bears! You are very adventurous. I am too much of a wimp to do wild hiking. I used to when I was a kid on my dad’s property. He has over 100 acres, much of it wooded. I did see a small black bear once. Ran like hell home. Thank God it was in the fall, in spring I may have become bear food.
Rose: You can come borrow ours anytime!
Or make one in your mind?
On 8 September 2009 at 4:34 pm Ana said,
Jannie,
It’s lovely that you are noticing such changes in the leafs, within that there is appreciation of nature already. Canada is such a beautiful country, with such diversifying seasons and
I live in the UK. I live just outside of South London, on the borders of the city where it is just quiet enough and easy to get to everywhere else. I have not mentioned this as of yet. Perphaps left little clues here and there on my blog, but that’s it. I was born and grew up in Portugal in my younger life and the rest of it moved here. Have been living all over South London for the past 19 years. It’s almost like been spreading further and further out, which is true.
It’s nice to hear about experiences in nature in other parts of the world, isn’t it.
On 8 September 2009 at 4:35 pm Ana said,
*continued* … with such diversifying seasons and open plan land.
On 9 September 2009 at 12:48 pm Jannie said,
Ana, I do miss the Canadian fall a lot. I imagine you get some glorious ones in the U.K.?
On 10 September 2009 at 12:49 am Rhett said,
Yeah, and you mention a place called “Nova Scotia” which has the (fictional?) orphanage where Anne Shirley was raised. Well, thanks for your incessant comments. They are the last straw by which I hang! ha-ha. Really, Gawd Bless America-h!
On 10 September 2009 at 2:08 pm Liara Covert said,
Thanks for sharing the beautiful scenery. It invites people to open their senses and apprecaite more what is all around them. Simplicity is a healing experience.
On 11 September 2009 at 1:14 am Jannie said,
Rhett: Yes, that’s right! Anne indeed came from there. Will you be reading the rest of the series? And have you read the Little House On The Prairie series? Stellar!!
Liara: I was out there again this morning, humbled and reveling in the glory. It seems to get prettier each day. Not so pleased with the fire ants, tho. Got 14 bites the other day. But I’m just fine and dandy now.
On 21 September 2009 at 1:59 am Rayna said,
What an utterly wonderful trail. Am I jealous of you- like, really, really, really jealous.
And the pink flower is a hibiscus – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus – one of my all time favourites.
On 21 September 2009 at 12:38 pm Jannie said,
Well hi, Rayna! How cool you could pop in all the way from Bombay and leave a comment. Isn’t the Internet the most fabulous invention ever? Well, that and the wheel.
And chocolate cake. I very much appreciate your visit, thanks. I appreciate your flower research and input, and promise never to take our fabulous trail for granted. I enjoyed myself very much there this morning. Rejuvenated now indeed!